Mary Elizabeth Matthews (abt. 1859 - 1945)

Born about 1859 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 1945 at about age 86 in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

According to her death record, Mary was born around 1859.^[1] She had a son, Albert Robert Matthews, in 1883.^[2] Albert died the following year; his father in the death record is named as George E.^[3]

Mary had a second son, George Albert Matthews in 1886, with the father listed as John W.^[4]

She had another six children with Robert Howes. All six took the surname Matthews and there appears to be no record of a marriage between Mary and Robert, suggesting a de facto relationship.

After Robert's death, Mary married George Woodorth in Sydney in 1915.^[5]

Mary died in Hornsby, New South Wales in 1945.^[1]

Research Notes

• Also known as Mary Elizabeth Derwin or Derwent. A Mary Derwent was born in St George, NSW in 1861, the daughter of James and Mary.^[6]
• There is a record of a George Matthews born in 1886 in Bathurst to John W Matthews and Mary (NSW BDM reg no 14801/1886). They were married in Orange in 1885 (NSW BDM reg no 6908/1885).
• So possibly Mary Matthews was born Mary West, married John Matthews and had a son George, John absconded and Mary retained the name Matthews for herself and her children with Robert Howes.
• Note from a Howes family website (http://www.howesfamilies.com/getperson.php?personID=I2317&tree=Onename): "Correspondent Robert Matthews notes that Mary had married a George Edward Matthews before partnering with Robert Howes and married subsequent to his death, to George Woodworth in 1915 in Sydney."

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} “Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985,” Registration Number 9510, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 July 2017).
2. ↑ NSW Government. Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Albert R Matthews, Birth. Registration number: 12931/1883, District: Dubbo. Mother: Mary. Accessed 7 Sep 2023. https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history-research/family-history-search.aspx
3. ↑ NSW Government. Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Albert R Matthews, Death. Registration number: 6813/1884, District: Dubbo. Mother: Mary. Father: George E. Accessed 7 Sep 2023. https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history-research/family-history-search.aspx
4. ↑ NSW Government. Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. George Matthews, Birth. Registration number: 14801/1886, District: Bathurst. Mother: Mary. Father: John W. Accessed 7 Sep 2023. https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history-research/family-history-search.aspx
5. ↑ “Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950,” Registration Number 8741, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 July 2017).
6. ↑ NSW Government. Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Mary Derwent, Birth. Registration number: 3876/1861, District: St George. Mother: Mary. Father: James. Accessed 7 Sep 2023. https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history-research/family-history-search.aspx